From New York Times bestselling author Rhys Bowen comes a haunting novel about a woman who braves her father’s hidden past to discover his secrets…In 1944, British bomber pilot Hugo Langley parachuted from his stricken plane into the verdant fields of German-occupied Tuscany. Badly wounded, he found refuge in a ruined monastery and in the arms of Sofia Bartoli. But the love that kindled between … love that kindled between them was shaken by an irreversible betrayal.
Nearly thirty years later, Hugo’s estranged daughter, Joanna, has returned home to the English countryside to arrange her father’s funeral. Among his personal effects is an unopened letter addressed to Sofia. In it is a startling revelation.
Still dealing with the emotional wounds of her own personal trauma, Joanna embarks on a healing journey to Tuscany to understand her father’s history–and maybe come to understand herself as well. Joanna soon discovers that some would prefer the past be left undisturbed, but she has come too far to let go of her father’s secrets now…
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I enjoyed this World War 11 story that had plenty of action and mystery. I also liked the flash backs. I am a great fan of Italy and have been in the Tuscany area several times so really loved the description of the Italian dishes and also the scenery. I enjoyed the switch from World War 11 to the present time and read this book straight through. I have other books by this author and cannot wait to read them.
I read this book over a year ago. It’s not my typical book so didn’t think I’d like it but once I started reading I couldn’t put it down. I felt I was in Tuscany the descriptions were so vivid. I have since read many of her books and all were very good
Thoroughly enjoyable! Felt like I was in Italy with the main character. Really enjoyed this book – sad to see it end! Good mystery!
It was a well written book with good character building. A great read.
Good story development, but the characters are weak… Not captivating, but overall I do recommend reading.
The Tuscan Child bounces back and forth in time between father (in the 1940s during WWII) and daughter (in the 1970s just after her father’s death, trying to piece together his history.) The father, Sir Hugo Langley, is shot down over a tiny village in Italy called San Salvatore, which is German-occupied at the time. An Italian woman named Sofia with a small son whose husband is missing in action hides and shelters him, and they fall in love.
Meanwhile, Joanna Langley is picking up the pieces of her life after her seriously depressed father has passed away. She found a letter among his things indicating that he was in Italy and he wrote to a woman named Sofia, and of “their beautiful boy.” Who was Sofia? What happened to her? Did they have a child together that Joanna knew nothing about?
She travels to Tuscany (hence the name of the story, though I assume the “child” refers to the “beautiful boy” discussed in the letter) to try to find the answer. While there she is taken in by kind rural Italians who teach her to cook, and there is so much discussion of the food and what they ate that it reminded me a bit of Eat Pray Love. She meets Sofia’s son Renzo, but he is too old to be the “beautiful boy” the letter spoke of. (Also, he’s very attractive.) Eventually Joanna trusts him enough to tell him a bit of why she’s come, to see what he knows about what became of his mother. Unfortunately, not much–all anybody in the town knows is that she was seen driving away with a German soldier and was never seen or heard from again.
And, per all Rhys Bowen’s novels, a dead body turns up that complicates everything. Joanna gets the impression that somebody doesn’t want her asking questions, and for awhile she is framed for the murder. But does Renzo have anything to do with it? Can she trust him? Or is he only pretending to be interested in her to get her alone and finish the job?
I’ve come to expect Rhys Bowen novels (outside of the Royal Spyness mysteries) to have a certain flavor to them: slow-paced, perfect for winding down at the end of a long day, involving lots of details and straight-forward dialogue. (People in her stories seem to say the most obvious things that most authors would omit entirely because it would be understood from the action, and the climactic moments are all, “I will not miss this time,” or “I believe that you find me attractive,” etc. No nuance or psychological complexity at all.) There’s always a little romance, though it’s not the main plot by any means. The stories always turn into mysteries sooner or later, but it’s a slow boil, and takes a long time to even reveal what the mystery is. Then there are always a few surprising twists at the end. Nothing too memorable or gripping, but you know exactly what you’re getting, and it’s always entertaining.
Captivating, unique story set in Italy. Entertains, while teaching of days-gone-by, family dynamics, and how to be a strong, powerful women of the times.
Gloria Squitiro: A first lady of Kanas City and author of May Cause Drowsiness and Blurred Vision: The Side Effects of Bravery—YOU, Too! can OVERCOME ANXIETY and live a bigger more carefree life—Become a New and Better You!
#YayWomenWriters!
Rhys Bowen wrote a compelling story from 2 different perspectives, the father, and the daughter, in 2 timelines. A real page-turner that kept my interest throughout. I found the characters believable and sympathetic. She entwined mystery, romance and the love of food into a wonderful story line, while creating the Tuscan countryside vividly in my mind’s eye.
loved this book
A lovely, warm-heated read from Rhys Bowen, perfect for the summer. A WW2 pilot parachutes out of his exploding plane over Tuscany, only to find danger, love, and intrigue within the ruined monastery where he hides. After he dies in 1973, his daughter goes to Tuscany to find the truth of the child he left there.
Not my favorite
I enjoyed this book – plain and simple. The characters were well developed and the story progressed nicely. After finishing, I realized I had read another book from this author. I equally enjoyed that one so I predict I’ve found a new author to love and enjoy.
I just finished this charming book. I loved the plot development, the characters, and its unpredictability. I was sure I had figured it out but it kept me guessing. Great beach read.
If you love WWII historical Fiction, this is a must-read!
Nice European wartime story with interesting characters
Joanna Langley, who has her own trauma to deal with, goes to a small town in Tuscany to uncover the secrets about her father’s past. He was British bomber pilot Sir Hugo Langley, an impoverished nobleman. The writer alternates between two time frames. There are some echoes of Ondaatje’s The English Patient as Hugo hides in a ruined monastery and is befriended and kept alive by Sofia Bartolli with whom he falls in love, but he has a family back home in England. Joanna’s journey is fraught with danger, but in the end it is healing. Mouthwatering Tuscan food is described at length. Rhys Bowen manages to place her story in an authentic and well-researched environment. Satisfactory revelations and enough suspense to keep the reader fascinated. A good read.
Interesting take on the war made more interesting living in Italy
Loved it and was sorry when I finished it, wanted it to go on and on. It was the second book I have read by this author and loved both. Can’t wait to read more by Her
Good read. Excellent character development without becoming bogged down. Nice ending to continue with another novel, should she want to, or not.
Left one character hanging in our imagination needlessly
Extremely well written, likeable characters (even when they weren’t), and just a great story arc (or perhaps a helix) with twists and turns. A particular great job of resolving the ending without actually making it a maudlin, overly complete solution. The book left room for revisiting the characters & place, without making it necessary with a cliff hanger.